Apparatus and method for mounting tissue sections on microscopic slides

Abstract

A novel apparatus for mounting tissue sections to microscope slides and method of use are provided. Current methods of mounting tissue sections on microscope slides can be challenging for researchers, often result in torn, twisted, or creased tissue sections and are low throughput. The described novel tissue mounting apparatus provides an improved, efficient and easy-to-use tool for researchers in mounting tissue sections on microscope slides while maintaining the integrity of the tissue. The tissue mounting apparatus comprises a fluid-filled open-top chamber containing a stage specifically designed for seating a microscope slide(s) at the center on the floor of the chamber. The stage characteristically is leveled and elevated from the floor. The tissue sections can settle on a microscope slide that is submerged in the liquid inside the mounting chamber. After the tissue sections adhere to the microscope slide in the fluid filled chamber, the fluid can be removed. As a result, the mounted slide emerges from liquid phase ready for research purposes or examination.

What claimed is: 
     
         1 . An open-top chamber comprising a stage situated at the center on the floor of the chamber wherein said stage is specifically designed to hold a microscope slide. 
     
     
         2 . Said stage of  claim 1  is leveled whereby the microscope slide sitting on the stage is also leveled. 
     
     
         3 . Said stage of  claim 1  is elevated from the floor of the chamber wherein all space below the slide is open to the flow of liquid. 
     
     
         4 . Said stage of  claim 1  can also be raised further from the floor of the chamber whereby the mounted microscope slide sitting on the stage can be raised above the aqueous phase. 
     
     
         5 . Said open-top chamber of  claim 1  that has the featured designs as it is given in example 1 and exemplified in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
     
     
         6 . Said open-top chamber of  claim 1  can also have an opening located underneath said stage of  claim 1  and at the center on the floor the chamber whereby the fluid inside said open-top container of  claim 1  can be drained. 
     
     
         7 . Said opening of  claim 6  can be connected to an external pump through tubing whereby the movement of the fluid inside said open-top chamber of  claim 1  can be controlled by the external pump to drain or fill the liquid inside said open-top chamber of  claim 1  as it is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     
     
         8 . Said open top chamber of  claim 1  that has the feature designs as it is given in example 2 and exemplified in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 .